On the womenswear front, Rihanna unanimously emerged the winner on almost every best-dressed list, slaughtering her peers with an architectural wonder from COMME des GARÇONS’ SS16 collection. It was an easy victory considering the likes of Kim Kardashian and her coterie of social media superstars, including the Jenners and Hadids, all grossly disappointed in pedestrian ensembles.

After all, this is the one star-studded red carpet event where you’re actively encouraged to let your freak flag fly. So, why are the millennial fashion icons disavowing avant-gardism and the rich fashion legacy of COMME des GARÇONS which was solidified as this year’s Met Gala theme by none other than Anna Wintour?

On the menswear front, the looks served didn’t fare much better either. However, given that formalwear is still considered to be the de facto dress code for men at the Met Gala, it’s fair to say that the guys are a little more confined by the limitations of tradition.

Here’s one more spicy hot take on the Met Gala fashions, though. Lil Yachty was the best-dressed guy at the Met Gala. Why? The 19-year-old rapper brought some energy, zeal, and sensationalism to a red carpet procession of achingly boring menswear looks. GQ named Mr. Robot star Rami Malek as the best-dressed guy, but the only groundbreaking thing about his Dior Homme ‘fit was the color. This year’s Met Gala red carpet had a Kanye-sized hole, and Lil Yachty was the heroic menswear maverick we all needed.

A$AP Rocky literally just wore plain ‘ole Calvin Klein jeans. Virgil Abloh forgot he was a fashion designer, sloppily opting for a daringly dull OFF-WHITE suit and a Junya Watanabe T-shirt. No sculpted utility belt headpiece in sight. Frank Ocean managed to look like a cater-waiter in Balmain. Pharrell looked like he was on his way to a beer-soaked punk show at your local DIY project space. Jaden Smith’s Louis Vuitton look was unoffensive but just too pared-back for a guy who accessorized with his own festering dreadlocks in hand.

Even though Lil Yachty was as equally as guilty in misinterpreting the COMME des GARÇONS theme as everyone else, his considered choice to step out in an all-white Moschino tux, complete with a top hat and even a cane, was brave and bold.

It’s a decadent look. All custom silk and a wool gabardine three-piece tuxedo with tails and satin revers, a luxe vest, slim-cut pants and a satin cummerbund, all deftly put together by Jeremy Scott at Moschino. It’s an aesthetic departure from Scott’s brazenly kitsch visual signature too. No McDonald’s logo in sight.

Needless to say, Yachty’s Fred Astaire-inspired look has fallen victim to the vicious meme-lords who were quick to compare his ‘fit to Uncle Pennybags of Monopoly fame. However, Yachty’s whacky look is exactly how your fave millennial faves should be playing the red carpet game.

Taking a look at his Instagram feed from the night of the Met Gala, it looks as though Yachty was very committed to making his debut at the event a night to remember. The “King of the Teens” rapper frantically posed for wide-eyed selfies with basically everyone there.

Here’s Yachty and the enigma that is Frank Ocean, joined by Kendall Jenner – Pepsi’s most successful spokesperson to date. The Atlanta rapper has frenzied look in his eyes, probably thinking about that next selfie.

Even though this year’s Met Gala wildly disappointed on the style front, props do go to Anna Wintour for such a solid curation of young talent across music and fashion, though. Take the picture above as a stellar example. It’s a melting pot of new-gen talent and literal hip-hop legends. Yachty poses with Migos, Pharrell and Sean “Diddy” Combs, and it’s a sight of beauty.

While Yachty’s look wasn’t anything groundbreaking on a surface level – he is wearing a tuxedo at a gala. But, he could have easily indulged convention with cooke-cutter classic formalwear. Instead, he turned up the camp dial, refused to take himself or the red-carpet seriously and opted for a fearlessly spiffy look. If this was Yachty’s debut at the Met Gala, then we can only hope he’ll continue to serve the steez for years to come.

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